The CRAAP Test Video

Summary

This video, presented by Peirce College librarians, introduces the CRAAP Test, a method to evaluate the reliability of online information using five criteria: Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. By applying these questions, students can determine if a source is credible for their research. The video uses a Wikipedia article on the Republican Party as an example, showing how it passes most CRAAP tests but fails the Authority test due to anonymous contributors. The video encourages viewers to consult the library for additional help with research.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The CRAAP Test is a method used to evaluate the reliability of online resources, focusing on Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
• 🗓️ Currency refers to whether the information is up-to-date and relevant to the current context of your research.
• 📚 Relevance involves assessing if the information answers your research question and if it adds value to your project.
• 👤 Authority examines who created the information, whether the authors are identifiable, and if they are qualified to write on the topic.
• ✅ Accuracy evaluates whether the information can be verified with other credible sources and if significant facts are omitted.
• 🎯 Purpose investigates why the website exists and whether the information is intended to inform, sell, entertain, or persuade.
• ❌ Wikipedia fails the Authority test since anyone can contribute to it, making it hard to verify the qualifications of the contributors.
• 📝 Even though Wikipedia contains many references, the lack of author transparency and possible bias reduces its reliability for serious research.
• 🔗 An example of a reliable source that passes the Authority test is an article from Vox, which provides identifiable authors and organizational credibility.
• 📞 Students can always contact the Peirce College Library for help with evaluating sources and conducting research.

Q & A

What is the main challenge students face when using Google for research?

Students often receive overwhelming results, making it difficult to determine which information is reliable and relevant.

What method is suggested to evaluate online resources?

The video suggests using the CRAAP Test to evaluate online resources for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose.

What does 'currency' refer to in the CRAAP Test?

Currency refers to how timely the information is. You should ensure the resource is up-to-date and relevant to the topic you're researching.

How do you determine the relevance of an online resource?

Relevance is determined by whether the information directly addresses your research topic and if it adds value to your project.

Why is 'authority' important when evaluating a source?

Authority ensures that the information is created by a qualified and trustworthy author or organization. This is critical for determining the credibility of the content.

What are some indicators of a resource’s authority?

Indicators include clearly identified authors, their qualifications, and the organization sponsoring the information. Wikipedia articles often lack clear authority because the authors are not easily identifiable.

How can you verify the accuracy of a source?

You can verify accuracy by checking if the resource provides references or links to other reliable sources and whether you can cross-check the facts using additional materials.

What is the 'purpose' of a website according to the CRAAP Test?

The purpose refers to why the information exists. You need to assess if the site aims to inform, teach, sell, or entertain, and if the information is fact-based, opinionated, or biased.

Why is Wikipedia not considered a reliable source based on the CRAAP Test?

Wikipedia fails the authority criterion because the authors are not easily identifiable, and anyone can edit the articles, making it hard to verify the qualifications of the contributors.

How can the CRAAP Test help in choosing a better source?

The CRAAP Test helps by providing a structured way to evaluate a source’s reliability, ensuring that the information is current, relevant, created by an authoritative source, accurate, and fit for its intended purpose.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Overwhelming Search Results: How to Determine Reliable Information

The opening paragraph addresses the common challenge of receiving overwhelming amounts of search results on platforms like Google. It highlights the difficulty of identifying reliable sources from a sea of information and introduces the CRAAP Test as a method for determining the credibility of online resources. The CRAAP Test stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. The paragraph uses an example of researching the Republican Party to illustrate the process of assessing a source's reliability, starting with Wikipedia, despite knowing that it shouldn't be used as an authoritative source. The paragraph ends with an explanation of the first criterion, Currency, explaining how to check if the information on a site is up-to-date and relevant.

05:03

📅 Evaluating Relevance: Ensuring Information Meets Your Research Needs

This paragraph shifts focus to the second criterion of the CRAAP Test: Relevance. It discusses how to determine if a source is relevant to your research question by evaluating whether the site addresses the topic and contains the necessary information. Using the same example of the Republican Party, it shows that the Wikipedia article provides details on history, positions, and electoral outcomes, meeting the relevance criteria. The paragraph emphasizes that relevance also includes the potential enhancement of your research and concludes that the article passes this test.

🏷️ Authority: Understanding the Credibility of Content Creators

The paragraph dives into the third and most important CRAAP Test criterion: Authority. It examines whether the creators of the information and the sponsoring organization are identifiable and qualified. In the case of Wikipedia, it points out that author information is generally missing or unclear, making it hard to assess the qualifications of contributors. The lack of identifiable author credentials means that the Wikipedia article fails the authority test, demonstrating why authority is crucial in evaluating online sources.

✅ Accuracy: Verifying Facts and Ensuring Reliable Information

This paragraph addresses the fourth criterion, Accuracy. It discusses how to verify the content by looking for a bibliography, credible references, and the ability to cross-check facts. The Wikipedia article on the Republican Party contains many references, including links to reliable sources, which suggests the information is likely accurate. However, it warns that without prior knowledge, it’s difficult to determine if any information is missing. Therefore, while the article probably passes the accuracy test, it's recommended to use multiple sources.

🎯 Purpose: Analyzing the Intent Behind the Information

The final CRAAP Test criterion discussed in this paragraph is Purpose. It examines why a website exists—whether to inform, entertain, sell, or push an agenda. Wikipedia’s purpose is to inform, but since anyone can edit the articles, there's a risk of bias or misinformation. The paragraph notes that Wikipedia attempts to present factual information but is vulnerable to manipulation, making it a potentially unreliable source. The article on the Republican Party partially passes the purpose test, but its open-edit nature raises concerns about bias and accuracy.

📊 Final Verdict on Using Wikipedia: The CRAAP Test Results

The concluding paragraph summarizes the results of applying the CRAAP Test to the Wikipedia article about the Republican Party. The article passes the Currency and Relevance criteria but fails in Authority, has probable Accuracy, and uncertain Purpose. The overall assessment is that while the information may seem useful, Wikipedia is not a reliable source due to the inability to verify contributors' credentials and potential biases. The paragraph contrasts this with an authoritative example from Vox, highlighting the importance of author transparency and editorial oversight when evaluating sources.

Keywords

💡CRAAP Test

The CRAAP Test is a method used to evaluate the reliability of online sources based on five criteria: currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. In the video, it is the core tool introduced to help students assess whether the information they find online is trustworthy and suitable for their research.

💡Currency

Currency refers to how up-to-date the information on a website is. In the video, it is explained that to determine the currency of a resource, one should check when the content was last updated and whether the information is still timely for the research needs. For example, when researching the Republican Party, both historical and current data are important.

💡Relevance

Relevance assesses whether the information found answers the research question or fits the context of the research. The video emphasizes that relevant information should directly address the topic, enhance the research project, and provide useful insights. For example, a Wikipedia page on the Republican Party is relevant if it contains a general overview of the party’s history and current positions.

💡Authority

Authority refers to who created the information and whether they are qualified to do so. The video stresses that reliable sources should have clearly identified authors or organizations that are recognized for their expertise. For instance, Wikipedia articles fail the authority test because the contributors’ qualifications are unknown, making it hard to verify the source's credibility.

💡Accuracy

Accuracy examines the correctness and reliability of the information presented, often by looking for references or verifying facts. In the video, accuracy is discussed in terms of verifying content through cross-referencing with other sources. The Republican Party page has 192 references, suggesting it may be accurate, but this still requires further verification.

💡Purpose

Purpose addresses why the information was created—whether to inform, teach, sell, or entertain. The video discusses how understanding the purpose of a site can help determine its bias or objectivity. For example, Wikipedia’s purpose is to inform, but because anyone can edit it, the content might sometimes be biased or incorrect.

💡Wikipedia

Wikipedia is an online open-source encyclopedia where anyone can edit articles. The video uses Wikipedia as an example to explain why it may not always be a reliable source due to its lack of authority and the potential for bias or misinformation. However, it can still serve as a starting point for research, provided the information is verified.

💡References

References are sources cited to support the information presented in an article. The video emphasizes that having a long list of references, like Wikipedia’s 192 citations for the Republican Party page, can indicate that the information might be accurate. However, it's important to check if the references come from reliable and high-quality sources.

💡Bias

Bias refers to the tendency to present information in a way that favors a particular perspective, often skewing the facts. The video warns that some online sources, including Wikipedia, might reflect the biases of their contributors, which is why it’s crucial to assess the neutrality of the information before using it.

💡Online Research

Online research is the process of using the internet to find information. The video highlights the challenges students face when sifting through millions of search results, especially when trying to determine which sources are reliable. It teaches students how to use the CRAAP Test to make informed decisions about which online resources to trust.

Highlights

Introduction to the overwhelming nature of online search results and how to assess reliable information.

The CRAAP Test method is introduced, which stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.

The importance of Currency: Assessing if the information is up-to-date and timely for the research context.

Example given: Assessing the Republican Party Wikipedia page for currency, showing it is up-to-date with relevant information.

Relevance criterion explained: How to determine if the information answers the research question and enhances the project.

Republican Party Wikipedia article passes the relevance test, offering a general overview with pertinent details.

Authority is emphasized as the most important part of the CRAAP test, with questions about author credentials and sponsor organizations.

Wikipedia fails the authority test because its authors are not clearly identifiable, and anyone can contribute to the site.

Accuracy is assessed by checking for references, sources, and the ability to verify facts from other high-quality sites.

The Wikipedia article on the Republican Party passes the accuracy test with a large number of references linking to credible sources.

Purpose analysis: Evaluating why the website exists and whether its information is fact, opinion, or biased.

Wikipedia's purpose is informative, but concerns about potential bias and the openness of the editing process raise questions.

CRAAP Test conclusion: Wikipedia's Republican Party article is not recommended as a reliable research source due to concerns about authority and purpose.

Comparison with an article from Vox, which passes the authority test by identifying its authors and their qualifications.

Final takeaway: The CRAAP Test is a useful method for evaluating online resources, and the Peirce Library is available to help students with research.

Transcripts

Hey Peirce students. Have you ever done a Google search and received millions of

results? Those kinds of numbers are overwhelming! How do you know what

information to use? Which information is the most reliable? These are common

questions, and figuring out the answers can be challenging. But there is a method

that you can use to easily determine if an online resource offers reliable

information. This video, presented by the Peirce College librarians, will provide

you with the basic skills you need to analyze the information you find on the

internet by using something called the CRAAP Test. CRAAP stands for currency,

relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. And when you use these five criteria by

answering some basic questions about an electronic resource, you’ll be able to

determine if the resource is reliable. For example, imagine that you have to

write a report about a political party in the United States. You choose to write

about the Republican Party and begin your research by using Google. Up pops

almost 7 million results. There’s also this Google box with information

from Wikipedia. You can see that the Wikipedia article for the Republican

Party is also one of the first entries on the results list. Even though

you know you’re not supposed to use Wikipedia as a source, you click the link

to the Republican Party Wikipedia page. How do you figure out if this is a

reliable source before you use it? The first thing you need to do is figure out

the article’s Currency. This means you need to make sure the information

presented on the website is timely for your needs.

What “timely” means depends on the context of the information you’re looking for.

For our example, information on the Republican Party, we will be able to use

both older information, about the history of the party, and more current

information about where the party may stand on issues now. You can help

determine the currency of a resource by answering the following questions. First:

Is the information up-to-date? In the box to the right we can see that the republican

political leaders are current, and below that you can see that they have

membership numbers from 2017. In the last paragraph of the introduction it has

information as recent as 2018. This indicates that yes the site has current

information. Second has the website been updated recently? At the very end of the

page we can see the date and time of the last update. So yes

the page has been updated recently. So does this Wikipedia article on the

Republican Party passed the currency tests. The answer is yes. Next thing we

need to do is figure out if this information has relevance for our

assignment. You do this by determining if the information on the website answers

your research question. To determine the relevance of the resource answer the

following questions: does the site address the topic, and is this

information you actually need? As you can see here the article has information on

history, positions, composition, and electoral outcomes. So yes it does

contain the needed information. Will using the information enhance your

research project? It most likely will as it provides a general overview of the

Republican Party? Does the article pass the relevance test? Yes there's a lot of

information about the Republican Party here? Now to figure out authority you

have to take into consideration who created the information and who sponsors

the website. Authority is the most important and component of the CRAAP test.

Answer these questions that determine the authority of the website: first are

the author's clearly identified? For Wikipedia articles author information is

not clearly identified however you can click on page information, revision

history statistics to see which you keep Wikipedia users have been editing the

page. But no author information is not really identifiable. Second is the author

qualified to write about this subject? While you can read user biographies from

the revision history statistics page most most users offer no information

about their educational or professional background. So we have no idea of the

authors of the article are qualified. Third what organization is sponsoring

the provision of the information? Click on the about Wikipedia link and you'll

learn about the Wikimedia Foundation an American nonprofit charitable

organization. Does this article pass the our authority criteria. NO! Literally

anyone can contribute to Wikipedia and it is almost impossible to determine who

contributes, let alone the contributors qualifications for editing pages. The

second A in CRAAP is about the accuracy of the website

you must be able to verify the content of the information presented. It helps if

you already have a little background information about the subject. To figure

out accuracy answer the following questions: Is there a bibliography or

list of references with more than one source used for background information?

Yes, in this article there are 192 references. Does the site link to other

relevant high-quality sites? It does the references include recent well-known

sources and most of them have links directly to their source. Can you verify

the facts presented using another source? Yes by clicking on the links available

in the references list. Has significant information been omitted? Unless you

already have background information about the Republican Party you may not

know if anything is missing this is why it's important to have more than one

source for your assignment. So does this article pass the accuracy criteria?

Probably. The large number of references for the article point to well-known

sources so the information on this page is probably accurate. Finally the last

thing you need to think about is the purpose of the website. Why does the

website exist? The best way to find out is to look at the websites about page

and answer these questions: What is the purpose of the information is it to

inform, teach, sell, entertain? The purpose of Wikipedia like any encyclopedia is to

inform? What type of information is present? Fact, opinion ,or propaganda?

Wikipedia tries to present facts but because anyone can edit the articles at

any time they may not be factual. Is the information biased or one-sided?

it's not supposed to be but again anyone can edit the article and make it biased.

Is the site comprehensive or does it just give a brief overview. Wikipedia is

most definitely a comprehensive website. Does this article pass the purpose

criteria? Possibly with very little information about who contributes to the

articles we do not know what their goals are for creating and editing information

on the site. There have been many published instances instances about

articles being edited in order to present non factual information as

pranks or to present bias. It's time to answer the big question does this

article about the Republican Party on Wikipedia passed the CRAAP Test?

look at the results of our five criteria: Currency: Yes;

Relevance: Yes; Authority: No; Accuracy: probably; Purpose: Possibly. Overall while

the information does look usable remember that we don't know who is

making changes to articles and why they're making the changes. For

these reasons we cannot reliably use this Wikipedia article as a source for

our research. Let's take a moment to see an example of what an article that

passes the authority test looks like. Down in the references we can see number

83: The Hypocrisy is Astounding: Tax Bill Shows the GOPs Debt Concerns Were Pure

Fraud, retrieved from Vox. The mission of vox.com is simple it

explains the news. When we look at the article we can immediately see who the

author is and if we click on his name we get a bio where we can see his title at

Vox and where his work has appeared before. Many of these organizations have

a national reputation for their authority as news source. So now you

know how to figure out if an online source is reliable, all you need to do is

remember CRAAP. You can also remember you don't have to go through this process

alone. You can contact the Peirce Library and we're more than happy to help you

out. Our phone number is 215.670.9269, our email

is [email protected], or you can just stop by. Login to the my.peirce.edu

portal and click the library tab to see when we are open and access our other

resources.